The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-16
PEOPLE OF JONESTOWB
HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT
THE CLARKSDALE CARD
And About the Murder Of the Negro
Wheeler-very Grave Charges
Made.
10 the Editor Of the Appeal.

We, the citizens Of Jamestown, are
surprised AMI indignant at the unfair
and false statement made by some OF
the people Of Clsrksdale and Lyon in
their communication to thu APPEAL
OF the 9th. An outraged community
cannot longer cit quiet and hear them
selves and friends traduced by men
whose sole object is for the further.
ance OF their own selfish ends, and We
claim that Of the signers Of that srti-
Gle, fifteen out Of eighteen were not
present on tba. eventful night; still
they claim In the beginning Of their
preamble that they set forth facts as
personally known 10 them. The local
issue Of removing the county site TO
Olarksdals or Lyon Is the cause
Of this great turmoil, engendered
by the fact that our
people are already groaning under the
stupsndous ad valoren tax Of 37} mills.
The removal faction claim that they
have been barred from our meetings.
We charge that ii lie is false, both fac.
tions meeting al .CoAhoms Station on
two occasions, also at Sheriff, Ridge
and at Oak Ridge. They were also In
vited at Friars Point on July I'd, but
failed to put In al appearance; instead
they chartered train and entered our
town 800 strong, claiming q great vic.
tory in our absence.
On the evening OF the 4th Of July
the non.removal club met; not for dis.
custom, but for receiving new mem.
bers. About 8 O'Clock q train pulled
into our town, bearing between
$50 and 400 yelling colored and white
men bearing torch lights, banners,
clubs, etc. To prove h " little We ex.
pected them our wives and children
came uninvitsd, summoned BY
. telegram from one Henry
Miller, q colortd parson, In their psy.
We claim thst the meeting was not q
secret one nor meeting for discussion,
was held 10 the pos,office building,
every door aud window being wide
open. We claim that we have the
right 10 hold non.renovAl meetings at
any time We see ft, without askipg
permission OF Clarksdale or Lyon, our
only object for holding them at night
being TO allox our lsborers TO attend
without conflicting with their duties
during the day. The removalists
claim that the man, VIM. Wheeler,
met his death by the too free use OF Q
club. No evidence TO that effect has
ever been produced. We claim that
We can prove by eye witnesses aud the
dying declaration Of Wheeler, that be
came to his death by q Cisrktdale
white man. We further claim that
the man williams, Who 10 now under
q $4,000 bond for this heinous crime, Q
few moments before the shooting 90
cured. vas being paradsd through
our streets on the shoulders oil q
number OF negroes because he had
made an unsuccessful attempt 10 take
possession Of the building where the
nonremovalists were congresa,ed.
VIM Wheeler was Q quiet and peaceA-
BILE man, good citis,n and secretary Of
the NonrsmovAl Club; q quiet spsc,a.
tor to . fsht between removal and
nonremoval men, when cries OF cut
hini kill himi shoot himl were
made by slme one In the Gro I'D, and
Immediately q white man stepped for.
ward, pistol In hand, and fred upon
deeeise Who turned and fed for his
life, but unfortunately wac shot In the
back and died In about one hour.
We claim that the,e are facts, and
inssmuch a. you have Always made
bold TO present bath sides OF all ques'
tons, We beg you give this, our ex
plAnation, publication, by 90 doing
you will greatly obligs q people
who neither wish nor will claim any
thing which smacks Of undetermined
terms or ubfairnsss, wishing nothing
only 10 staod out In our true colon
before our iellos man.
W. wRATHERsLY.
". y. sApLER,
W. Y, GhNONG.
a. b. s1sLEY.
B.f. BARRY,
l. NJ. 0AN0sG.